SEOUL, June 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea could put off a decision to select a supplier for a multi-billion-dollar purchase of advanced combat fighter jets if it is necessary for the "national interest," the head of the nation's arms procurement agency said Wednesday.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) reopened bidding Tuesday for the fighter-jet contract worth upward of 8.3 trillion won (US$7.1 billion), a day after Boeing, Lockheed Martin and EADS submitted bids, citing errors in the relevant documents.